Developer- and Publisher-specific Articles: Halo 4

Microsoft released new content for Halo: The Master Chief Collection over the weekend. In addition to the new multiplayer map Remnant, a re-imaged version of Halo 2’s Relic, a beefed-up 1080p, 60fps version of Halo 3: ODST’s campaign has also gone live. ODST is free for those who logged into Live and played the Collection between November 11 and December 19, while everyone else can grab it from the Xbox Store for $4.99. Those who qualify for the free version will receive a download code at the email address registered through Live.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is now available for Xbox One. The launch initially kicked off with over 4,000 midnight release events and additional livestreamed festivities, but those who decided to stay in can now grab a copy. The set includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, an updated Halo 2 with cutscenes by Blur Studios, Halo 3, Halo 4, access to the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta, and the live-action series Halo: Nightfall from Ridley Scott. So pretty much everything but ODST and Wars. Pictures from the livestreamed launch event HaloFest were also released, and those who missed it can watch it on demand through the official site.

Microsoft has detailed HaloFest, a series of events being hosted by 343 Industries in celebration of the impending release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The studio plans on hosting broadcasts of interviews, new gameplay footage from the campaign, and sneak peeks of both the multiplayer beta as well as the first episode of Halo: Nightfall. The bulk of the festivities will take place on November 10 at the Avalon Theatre in Los Angeles, but a tournament will kick things off on November 8-9 and all events will be viewable via streams on Twitch, Xbox.com, and Xbox Live. The schedule is available below, and event details can be found on the official Facebook page. To get fans ready, 343 has released a new trailer debuting the live-action series Halo: Nightfall.

343 Industries has announced that Halo: The Master Chief Collection has gone gold. The Xbox One set will also be receiving a wider release with most territories now scheduled to get the game on the earlier release date, November 11. The countries not included in the bump are Belgium (November 12), Japan (November 13), and France (November 14). The game will also go live for pre-order and pre-download later today, which will allow gamers to pre-load the game to have it ready to play the second it goes live. Those going the digital route should take advantage of that option, as there will be a lot to download: 45 GB for the game and another 20 GB for a launch content patch, which will include “some features and multiplayer content.” The campaign will be playable as content is installing.

The recently revealed Forge Island expansion for Halo 4’s Forge mode is now available on Live. The download features three modifiable islands, known collectively as the Great Anvils, as well as new building materials for the map-creation mode. Forge Island is available through Halo 4’s in-game store or Live Marketplace, and weighs in at 150 megs.

New details have been announced about the second of three upcoming map packs for Halo 4, the Majestic Map Pack. The Certain Affinity- and 343 Industries-developed entry in the War Games Map Pack series will launch next Monday, February 25, with three small- to medium-sized maps, detailed below, as well as two Majestic DLC playlists and a new free-for-all mode, Infinity Rumble.

Halo 4’s Spartan Ops: Season One will continue shortly with a recently announced five-week run of content. The new drops will launch between January 21 through February 24, adding more episodic adventures for players to see the crew of the UNSC Infinity through. Episodes 6-10 will feature Fireteam Crimson searching for Spartan Thorne on planet Requiem, squaring off against Jul ‘Mdama and his Covenant cult, and beyond. According to the press release, players can look forward to vehicular and on-foot combat as well as gunbattles with Promethean and Covenant forces.

The Chief will return in his first new adventure in five years at midnight with the launch of Halo 4. Microsoft has announced that over 10,000 retail stores around the world will be opening their doors at 12:01 tomorrow morning for gamers who can’t wait to don the green armor again. The University Village Microsoft Store in Seattle will host the biggest event, with kiosks housing playable units, prizes, and 343 Industries staff on hand to meet fans.

A new video preview for Halo 4 detailing the Covenant invasion of Requiem has launched at Halo Waypoint. The footage is from one of the terminal videos that can be found throughout Halo 4, which offer additional background on the surrounding events. The prologue offers a glimpse of the initial assault on the Forerunner world. To check out the video, head on over to Waypoint.